Gosport Elementary celebrates 22nd Back-to-School Parade
What started 22 years ago as a "wild idea" has officially become a cherished small-town institution, bringing together students, staff, and residents for a morning of community pride.
Gosport Elementary School (GES) Principal Carol Watson recalled the inception of the event during her second year at the helm. Two teachers, Shelly Roofe and Cindy Sichting, approached her with the concept of marching students through the streets of Gosport.
"To be completely honest, I thought they were crazy," Watson shared. "I remember telling them, 'This is going to be an absolute disaster!' Luckily, they were persistent, and I was young enough and willing enough to give it a try. And look at what we have done!"
Now, that initial leap of faith has evolved into one of the most anticipated days of the school year. The excitement builds well before the parade begins, with students crafting banners, preparing chants, and receiving new school shirts purchased annually by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The Gosport VFW Post #7850 also contributes by supplying handheld American flags for the children to carry along the route.
When parade day arrives, the entire community steps forward to support the school.
"As the principal of Gosport Elementary, seeing our community show up year after year is one of the things that makes me most proud," Watson said. "There is something to be said about a small town that comes out on a random Friday morning in September to line the streets, wave, cheer, and celebrate their hometown elementary school."
For Watson, watching the students march behind her evokes a powerful emotional response that reaffirms her dedication to education.
"I honestly can't describe the feeling I get when I look back and see all of those kids marching behind me through the streets of Gosport. It always makes me smile, and it makes my heart incredibly proud," Watson noted. "For about 45 minutes, the world seems to slow down. The everyday stresses disappear, everyone is smiling, and things just seem right. I truly have the best job in the world… and on parade day, I am reminded of exactly why."
Sustaining a 22-year tradition requires extensive collaboration among local agencies and volunteers. School leadership expressed gratitude to the Owen County Sheriff’s Department, School Resource Officers Daniel “Opie” Rhienhart and Ryan Bonebrake, the Gosport Volunteer Fire Department, and community volunteers. Special thanks were also extended to Casey Neal of Hometown Transmissions for providing a trailer to transport prekindergarten and kindergarten participants.
GES currently serves 162 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade across northern Owen County. While the student body may be small, Watson emphasizes that the impact of their collective presence is profound.
"One hundred sixty-two students may not sound like a lot to some schools,” she said, “but when those 162 students walk through the streets of Gosport surrounded by teachers, families, community members, waving flags, banners, cheers, and smiles, they make a big statement: ‘This is Gosport. This is our school. This is our community.’
What began two decades ago as an improbable suggestion has steadily transformed into a cherished fixture of the small town, proving just how powerfully a simple "wild idea" can unite the close-knit community of Gosport.
